ʺAn out‐of‐body experience,ʺ Beth said, her eyes wide with interest. ʺPeople who flatline and are resuscitated sometimes report having them.ʺ
Ivy leaned toward her friend. ʺDid you see anyone resuscitate me?ʺ Beth shut her eyes for a moment, then rubbed her forehead. ʺI‐I didnʹt see anyone. I think I blacked out for a few minutes. I remember opening my eyes and seeing a flashing light, and someone leaning over me. I tried to tell them about you, but they told me to stay still. I was being put in an ambulance. I didnʹt know where you were. They must have been resuscitating you then.ʺ
ʺNo …no.ʺ Ivy laid her hand on her heart, remembering the moment she felt its wild beating. She couldnʹt keep her voice from trembling. ʺIt was Tristan.ʺ
ʺWhat?!ʺ Beth exclaimed. ʺI think Tristan saved me.ʺ Beth frowned. ʺYou mean because you called to him, he sent the paramedics—ʺ
ʺNo, I mean Tristan saved me. I heard him. I felt his arms wrap around me. He kissed me.ʺ
ʺOh, Ivy,ʺ Beth said, resting her hands on Ivyʹs. ʺHe couldnʹt have. He fulfilled his mission and left you after you were safe from Gregory. The night Suzanne and I spent with you, just before dawn, he said good‐bye. You told me that/ʹ
ʺIʹm telling you now he was there for me.ʺ Beth shook her head. ʺIf s how your mind has interpreted the experience. Or perhaps you were given a dream of Tristan to comfort you. ʺIt was him/ʹ Ivy insisted. ʺIvy, donʹt make it harder for yourself! Tristan is dead and gone.ʺ
Ivy pulled her hands away. ʺI‐I think itʹs just the anniversary that’ s affecting you like this,ʺ Beth said, in a quieter voice. ʺIt will be easier once it has passed.
But right now, be careful what you say to Will. He told me that— well, just donʹt hurt him, Ivy. This anniversary and the way it is making you think of Tristan is very hard on Will.ʺ Unexpected anger flared up in Ivy. She didnʹt need Beth to remind her about Willʹs feelings. As if she didnʹt already feel like a traitor!
Ivy turned away, feeling the way she did the weeks following Tristanʹs death, when people were giving her advice about how to get over him, none of them understanding how painful it was to remember — and how painful it was not to.
ʺIvy,ʺ her mother called from the back steps of the inn. ʺYou ready? Beth, come with us — girlsʹ day out! Iʹd love to buy you something pretty.”
ʺThank you, no,ʺ Beth called back. ʺMy headacheʹs back,ʺ she said to Ivy without meeting her eyes, then gave a small shrug and retreated to the cottage.
WHEN IVY RETURNED FROM THE SHOPPING TRIP, during which she had successfully distracted her mother from clothes with a search for vintage Sandwich glass, a familiar ringtone sounded on her phone. ʺHi, Will.ʺ
ʺAhoy!ʺ It was Philipʹs voice. ʺWhy, shiver me timbers!ʺ Ivy replied. ʺWhere are you, Bluebeard?ʺ ʺUh…ʺ
There was a discussion at the other end with some squawking seagulls in the background, then Will got on the phone and gave Ivy directions to the beach on Pleasant Bay where he and Philip were boating. ʺCan you come?ʺ ʺJust have to change into my suit,ʺ Ivy replied. Arriving at the beach with towels, a bag of cookies, and a thermos, Ivy spotted Will and Philip next to the long green kayak that Aunt Cindy had lent them. They were building a castle, both of them wearing red pirate bandanas on their heads and strings of bright Mardi Gras beads around their necks. Intent on their digging and piling of sand, neither of them saw her‐—or the camp of girls who were admiring Will.
Tan, his muscles glistening with sweat as he worked, Willʹs artist hands quickly shaped ramparts and towers. He looked up suddenly, his deep brown eyes shining with pleasure.
ʺWhy, hereʹs a lass!ʺ he said. ʺAvast ye, Bluebeard.ʺ
Bluebeard looked up. ʺSheʹs a scallywag.ʺ ʺBe nice, you scurvy dog,ʺ Ivy said to Philip, ʺor I wonʹt share my chocolate chip booty.ʺ
ʺChocolate chips? Ahoy, me hearty!ʺ Will responded. ʺLet me spread that towel for you.ʺ He took her bundles from her, and standing close, bent his head, resting his forehead against hers. ʺIf s good to see you,ʺ he said softly. Ivy took off her sunglasses and looked into his eyes. ʺPirates donʹt do mushy stuff,ʺ Philip said.
ʺShore leave,ʺ Will replied, then kissed Ivy. They spread the towels next to the castle and shared the cookies. Opening a ziplock bag, Will took out a sketch pad and flipped through to a blank page. Pencil in hand, he worked quickly, easily, his eyes moving from paper to Ivy, paper to Ivy.
ʺI donʹt really have to look,ʺ he said, smiling. ʺIʹve got you memorized.ʺ
In five minutes he had a sketch of two pirates with a treasure chest between them, a short Bluebeard lifting up a jeweled goblet, a girl pirate lifting up a robe with a feathery hem and collar. Ivy laughed.
ʺDo you think Lacey and Ella could meet pirates on one of their angel adventures?ʺ Philip asked.
ʺIʹll have to talk to the author, but I think we can arrange that.ʺ
Will moved to a fresh page and started drawing more slowly a cluster of trees to their right, working the pattern of their branches against the deep sweep and curve of the bay. He hummed as he drew. His happiness, his joy in that moment, made Ivy ache.
ʺPhilip, want to take a walk?ʺ she asked. Her little brother jumped to his feet.
ʺWeigh anchor and hoist the mizzen!ʺ he cried. ʺWhoa! Where did you get that line?ʺ ʺWill.ʺ Will looked up and smiled. ʺDonʹt get lost, matey.ʺ
Philip looked left and right, then said to Ivy. ʺThat way!ʺ She was glad that he pointed left, toward the spit of sand that pushed out into the bay, creating behind its trees a secluded cove. She walked silently, while Philip, still young enough to talk out his fantasies, strutted and gave orders to his pirate crew. He found rubies and doubloons at the edge of the water. From time to time, he raised his spyglass and saw danger on the horizon.
When they had rounded the point, they came upon a deposit of sea stones, shiny‐wet and glittering in the late afternoon sun. They knelt down to pick through them. ʺPhilip,ʺ Ivy said, trying to sound casual, ʺyou told someone in the hospital to pray to Tristan. Do you still pray to him?ʺ
ʺOf course.ʺ
ʺAnd does he answer?ʺ
ʺYou mean, do I hear him?ʺ
ʺYes.ʺ
ʺNot anymore. I stopped hearing him after Gregory died.ʺ Ivy nodded and continued sorting through the stones, telling herself she shouldnʹt have expected anything else, and it was silly to be disappointed.
Philip rolled a pebble between his fingers, then discarded it. ʺI hear Lacey.ʺ
Ivy glanced up. ʺYou do? You never mentioned that before/ʹ
ʺYou never asked.ʺ Ivy sat back on her heels, thinking. She hadnʹt sensed Laceyʹs presence in the house — hadnʹt seen the telltale purple shimmer that indicated the angel was mere — so she had assumed that when Tristan said good-bye, Lacey had left too.
Of course, Lacey hadnʹt liked her; Ivy knew that. Lacey had helped her because Lacey cared about Tristan — was in love with him, Ivy suspected.
ʺYo ho ho and a bottle of rum,ʺ Philip sang, stirring the wet pebbles and sand with his finger. ʺThe doctors told Mom itʹs a miracle you didnʹt die.ʺ
ʺYes, it seems like a miracle. I prayed toʺ—she hesitated—ʺan angel.ʺ Philip looked up at her, as if he suddenly understood. ʺDid Lacey help you?ʺ
ʺI think some angel did,ʺ Ivy replied. ʺLetʹs ask her,ʺ Philip said. ʺLacey!ʺ He stood and raised his hands to the sky. ʺHey, Lacey, Lacey, Lacey. Cʹmon, Lacey, you scallywag!ʺ
There was no response. Philip shrugged, then knelt to continue sorting through the stones. ʺI guess sheʹs busy.ʺ
ʺWell, blow me down, if it isnʹt the old buccaneer and his scurvy sister!ʺ a husky voice said. ʺLacey!ʺ Philip replied happily. ʺHi, Lacey,ʺ Ivy greeted her, trying not to let the hope seep into her voice. If Lacey was still here— ʺLong time no see,ʺ Lacey replied to Ivy, ʺwhich works for me.ʺ Her purple shimmer came close to them, as if she were crouching on the sand. ʺThis oneʹs perfect.ʺ A smooth round stone appeared to hop into Philipʹs hand.
ʺWhatʹs up, Philip? I canʹt stay long this time‐got a new gig — an apprentice that doesnʹt have a due what heʹs doing.ʺ
Philip nodded. ʺJust a question: Did you save Ivyʹs life on Sunday night?ʺ
ʺExcuse me?ʺ She moved away from where Philip and Ivy were kneeling and appeared to dance along the edge of the water. Her shimmer was as delicate as a sea mist, the deep purple of a mollusk shell. ʺSave Ivy?ʺ
ʺBeth and I were in a car accident,ʺ Ivy explained.
Lacey came closer, circling Ivy, as if studying her. Ivy felt the gentle pressure of fingers against her temple and knew that Lacey was materializing just the tips of them; by the time Tristan had left, he had been able to do that too.
ʺIʹve seen paper cuts bigger than that,ʺ Lacey said. ʺI know,ʺ Ivy replied with surging confidence.